In a bold move, Justin Sun, the entrepreneur behind the Tron blockchain network, upheld his promise to eat the banana from the $6.2 million artwork he recently purchased at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The 34-year-old outbid six competitors to secure Maurizio Cattelan’s notorious piece that features a banana duct-taped to a wall. This spectacle unfolded at a press conference in Hong Kong, where Sun linked the unusual art to the world of cryptocurrency.
Known for its controversial nature, the banana is typically replaced for exhibitions, and Sun acquired the rights to display it, complete with instructions on how to swap the fruit. The artwork had been previously consumed twice: once by a performance artist in 2019 and again by a South Korean student in 2023, both of whom did not pay for the privilege. Sun noted that incorporating his consumption into the artwork's narrative adds a new chapter to its history.
"It's much better than other bananas," he quipped, showcasing a fresh banana acquired for 35 cents on the same day as the auction, now potentially one of the most expensive fruits globally. Attendees were given their bananas and duct tape as memorabilia accompanying the event, prompting Sun to assert, "Everyone has a banana to eat."
Alongside his art antics, Sun runs the Tron blockchain service that facilitates cryptocurrency trading. He likened the banana artwork to NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are unique digital assets devoid of inherent value but gain worth through market perception. Despite his ventures in the cryptocurrency field, Sun faces challenges, having been charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for selling unregistered securities — a claim he refutes. Recently, he disclosed a substantial $30 million investment in a crypto initiative associated with US President-elect Donald Trump, further solidifying his standing in the industry.
Known for its controversial nature, the banana is typically replaced for exhibitions, and Sun acquired the rights to display it, complete with instructions on how to swap the fruit. The artwork had been previously consumed twice: once by a performance artist in 2019 and again by a South Korean student in 2023, both of whom did not pay for the privilege. Sun noted that incorporating his consumption into the artwork's narrative adds a new chapter to its history.
"It's much better than other bananas," he quipped, showcasing a fresh banana acquired for 35 cents on the same day as the auction, now potentially one of the most expensive fruits globally. Attendees were given their bananas and duct tape as memorabilia accompanying the event, prompting Sun to assert, "Everyone has a banana to eat."
Alongside his art antics, Sun runs the Tron blockchain service that facilitates cryptocurrency trading. He likened the banana artwork to NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are unique digital assets devoid of inherent value but gain worth through market perception. Despite his ventures in the cryptocurrency field, Sun faces challenges, having been charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for selling unregistered securities — a claim he refutes. Recently, he disclosed a substantial $30 million investment in a crypto initiative associated with US President-elect Donald Trump, further solidifying his standing in the industry.
